Family Farms

The USDA recently reported that farmers only receive 11.6 cents of each food dollar spent, down from 20 cents in 1999. Food processing, transportation, packaging, and energy account for nearly three times that amount.

Loss of Farms in the Greater Lehigh Valley

Sources: USDA Census of Agriculture 1930-2012, BFBLGLV 2014

The Lehigh Valley has lost more than 80% of its farms and 53% of its farmland in the past century. Only 984 farms and 142,000 acres remain.

With each local food purchase, more of our food dollars go directly to local farmers, ensuring that family farms in the Lehigh Valley continue to be economically viable, and that farmland and nutritious, flavorful food will be available for future generations.